It's deputy versus deputy for Lackawanna County sheriff

Two Lackawanna County deputies who each have long years of experience in the sheriff's office face off in the Nov. 5 election to succeed Sheriff John Szymanski.

Chief Deputy Dominick Manetti and Deputy Mark P. McAndrew both say they have the background necessary to step in immediately to replace Mr. Szymanski, who is retiring after eight terms.

Mr. Manetti, 53, of Old Forge, the Republican nominee, cited his 30 years in the office, including 27 years in leadership positions. He has spent the past 24 years as chief deputy.

"I am responsible for making sure every department in that office is operating to its fullest. I prepare the budget. I prepare and implement policy. I have been in charge under the sheriff, second in command, for 23 years," said Mr. Manetti, who also pointed to his 10 years of active duty and reserve military experience.

"It's not going to be on-the-job learning for me. I'm ready to roll."

Mr. McAndrew, 48, of Mayfield, the Democratic candidate, said he has carried out all of the duties of the sheriff during his 23 years as a deputy.

"Every aspect of that office I have performed," he said.

He also cited his 22 years as a police officer for Upvalley and Midvalley communities, which gave him direct law enforcement experience, and his stint as a member of Archbald Borough Council, where he became familiar with administrative duties such as budgeting.

"I'm not a greenhorn when it comes to that," Mr. McAndrew said. "I've been there."

Upset about delays in the transport and delivery of prisoners to the courthouse for sentencings and other proceedings, the county judiciary demanded the sheriff's office and the jail find a solution. As a compromise, the county administration agreed to install additional holding cells at the courthouse.

Mr. Manetti said the top issue facing the office is maintaining its level of service to the courts while keeping expenses in check. With the growth of the criminal caseload, that task is increasingly difficult, he said.

"It is something we have to accomplish every single day, and we have to keep doing it while not letting the costs skyrocket," Mr. Manetti said. "The way we accomplish that is by effective utilization of manpower."

Mr. McAndrew said he would make it a priority to build more rapport between the sheriff's office and other law enforcement agencies.

"We have a good working relationship with all of the law enforcement agencies in the county, and I would like to see that continue in the direction that it is going in," Mr. McAndrew said. "I'd like to see our deputies take advantage of as much training as possible that is afforded to us."

Asked what area of the office's operation is most in need of improvement, Mr. McAndrew said he would find a way to use employees more effectively.

For example, he said, the office has two deputies who serve civil papers; he would add a third. Because of manpower issues, a deputy handling protection-from-abuse orders sometimes must go out alone; he would like to consistently have a two-person PFA unit, Mr. McAndrew said.

"There are little things I would like to tweak here and there," he said.

Mr. Manetti said while the responsibility does not fall entirely on the sheriff's office, there needs to be improvement in how the office serves the courts. He understands the concerns of the judges because when deputies do not get prisoners to the courthouse on time, it slows down the system and everyone falls behind.

"We need to get better at it, and we can get better at it," Mr. Manetti said. "There are things we can do communication-wise and operation-wise and preparation-wise, and we will do those."

The winner of the sheriff's election will serve a four-year term. The position pays $66,174 annually.

Experience: Thirty years in sheriff's office, including 24 as chief deputy; Army veteran, having served three years as military intelligence analyst, followed by seven years in reserve; member of executive board, Lackawanna County SWAT Team

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